Switch system



Dec. 14, 1965 c. s. WRIGHT ETAL 3,223,812

SWITCH SYSTEM Filed June 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 To Antenna INVENTORSCHARLES S. WRIGHT KENNETH OWEN ATTORNEY Dec. 14, 1965 c. s. WRIGHT ETAL3,223,812

SWITCH SYSTEM Filed June 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 To Antenna ISRINVENTORS I? CHARLES S. WRIGHT KENNETH OWEN ATTORNEY Dec. 14, 1965 c. s.WRIGHT ETAL 3,223,812

SWITCH SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 15, 1964 INVENTORS n m m mwwmW0 S m EE RN AN HE CK BY W% d 4 Dec. 14, 1965 c. s. WRIGHT ETAL3,223,812

SWITCH SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 15, 1964 To Antenna Tl T2 T3INVENTORS CHARLES S. WRIGHT KENNETH OWEN BY ATTORNEY Dec. 14, 1965 c. s.WRIGHT ETAL 3,223,812

SWITCH SYSTEM Filed June 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l/l/lI/ll/Ill/ll/l/IIII l/l/III/ INVENTORS CHARLES S WRIGHT E KENNETH OWENe4 e5 26RA \l 38 L l K ss'A description proceeds United States Patent()fi ice 3,223,812 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 3,223,812 SWITCH SYSTEMCharles S. Wright, 6700 Jansen Court, and Kenneth Owen, 6481 HibblingAve., both of Springfield, Va. Filed June 15, 1964, Ser. No. 375,153 22Claims. (Cl. 200153) The present invention relates to electricalswitching and more particularly to switching apparatus for use in theradio frequency range whereby any one of a plurality of transmitters orreceivers can be connected to any one of a plurality of antennas withfreedom from objectiona-ble cross-talk.

Heretofore transmitters have been connected to certain antennas toobtain the desired directional effect and this connection has beenobtained by coaxial cables with suitable connectors such as coaxialpatch cords so any one of a plurality of transmitters could be connectedto any one of a plurality of antennas but the use of coaxial cables withtheir connectors has been awkward to use and has required excessive timefor each change, and there Was uncertainty as to the power from thetransmitter being turned off during the change.

One object of the present invention is to provide a switchingarrangement which overcomes the above difficulties.

An object of the present invention is to provide a switching arrangementparticularly useful for connecting any one of a plurality oftransmitters, power means or receivers to any one of a plurality ofantennas or loads in a minimum of time and with visible indication ofwhich antenna or load is connected to which transmitter power means orreceiver,

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shieldedswitching arrangement which avoids objectionable cross-talk betweenconductors.

A further object is to provide positive locking means to prevent anantenna switch change until after the power is turned off.

Other and further objects will be apparent as the and upon reference tothe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of one form of the antenna switchingarrangement for connecting any one of a plurality of transmitters by astrip-line system to anv one of a plurality of antennas.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section takensubstantially on line 22 in FIGURE 1, showing a single plunger in normalposition providing a continuous strip-line conductor from a firsttransmitter which is insulated and shielded from a similar continuousstripline conductor from the first antenna.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, horizontal section takensubstantially on broken line 33 of FIG- URE 1 showing the end plungerassemblies in normal or strip-line continuing position and showing thecenter plunger assembly in cross-switching position and alsoillustrating the microswitches for causing disconnection of thetransmitter during the switching operation and for indicating theposition of the plunger in cross-switching position.

FIGURE 4 is an axial section of one form of plunger assembly showing theend shafts mechanically connected by a threaded rod with a tubularinsulator, strip-line continuing contacts, cross-switch contact,electrical shielding sheet element, insulating spacer collars, operatingknob and microswitch actuating disk.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a fragment of a plunger assembly supported ina front plate showing one square contact element on the plunger incontact with a strip- 1 line section supported on insulators mounted onthe plate and forming a continuous strip-line and showing thecross-switching contact being guided by a dihedral angle bracketsupported on the same plate.

FIGURE 6 is a section taken on line 66 of FIG- URE 5 showing howinsulator capacitance effects are minimized by a conductive figure 8shaped yoke.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of an electrical shielding sheet elementfor closing a plunger receiving aperture in the base.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary isometric view showing how a continuousstrip-line is formed by a square stripline continuing contact betweenstrip-line sections with the plunger in normal position for carrying thesignals through the continuous strip-line and with the electricalshielding element closing the associated plunger receiving aperture ofthe base and showing a terminal strip-line section connected to a centerterminal of a coaxial cable.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary isometric schematic view showing one plungerassembly with a right-hand cross switch in normal or carry throughcondition and one plunger assembly with a right-hand cross-switchcontact in antenna and transmitter cross connecting position and showingplunger assemblies with left-hand cross-switch contacts in correspondingconditions, with details omitted for clarity.

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of a switching apparatus forselectively connecting three transmitters to three antennas similar toFIGURE 1 and also showing plungers for connecting each transmitter to adummy load.

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of apparatus for selectivelyconnecting any one of eight transmitters, for example, to any one ofeight antennas.

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic illustration of a modification of thearrangement of FIGURE 11 where eight transmitters can be connected to adummy load and to any one of two antennas and can be connected tocertain ones only of six other antennas.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged rear elevation of one of the rear plates withthe microswitches in position.

FIGURE 14 is a schematic diagram of a signal or annunciator board usedwith the switching arrangement of FIGURE 1 with the addition of thedummy load.

FIGURE 15 is a front perspective on a further enlarged scale of amodification of plunger and front bearing plate assembly with thecontacts in strip-line continuing position and showing a manuallyrotatable control locking sleeve on a shaft core with cam means on thelock ing sleeve cooperating with a slot in the front plate communicatingwith the bearing aperture and with the cam means cooperating withmicroswitches mounted on the front plate for controlling the transmitterand for additionally retaining the locking sleeve and the plunger ineither the strip-line continuing position or the cross switchingposition.

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary vertical section through the assembly ofFIGURE 15 showing detent action of the outer cam means and showing thecontact elements with yieldable insulating washers at each end of thecontact spacer insulators.

FIGURE '17 is a section taken on line 17-17 of FIGURE 16 showing thedetent action of microswitch operating arms and the relative angularpositions of the earns, the cam receiving slots, and the stops limitingangular movement of the locking sleeve.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a stripline switch systemincludes a vertically positioned flat base 10 to which side walls 11Dand 11L and a top wall '12 are secured with the base being provided witha plurality of plunger receiving square apertures 13 therethrough withthe apertures arranged in vertical and horizontal rows which rows willbe identified numerically 3 from the top down and from left to right asshown in FIGURES and 11 and the p lungers carrying the switch contactswill be similarly identified where necessary.

Horizontally extending partition members 14 of Z- shape or I-shapesection extend between the horizontal rows of apertures 13 on the frontof base It} and vertically extending partition members are locatedbetween the vertical rows of apertures 13 on the rear of base 10. Aplurality of front plates 16F extend between the adjacent frontpartition members 14 while identical plates 16R extend between the rearpartition members 15 but the rear plates are rotated through 90 aboutthe axis of the shaft receiving aperture to the position shown in FIGURE13. Each plate 16F and 16R has a shaft receiving aperture serving as abearing.

Each set of cooperating plates has its shaft receiving apertures inaxial alignment with each other and in axial alignment with thecooperating square aperture 13 in the base 10 as clearly shown in FIGURE3. The plates 16 are held in position by screws 16S threaded into tappedholes in the partition members 14 and 15 and the partition members aresecured to the base 10 by screws threaded into tapped holes in the base.

Where parts are similar the part in front of base 10 is identified bythe reference numeral with the suffix F and a part rear of base 10 isidentified by the reference numeral with the sufiix R.

A dihedral angle guide bracket has one leg 17 supported on the innersurface of each plate 16F or 16R and the other leg 18 extendstransversely to its plate and to the base 10 and parallel to the axis ofthe cooperating shaftreceiving apertures. Insulators 19, 19 havingthreaded bores at each end, are secured by one end to the one leg 17 ofthe angle bracket and to the cooperating plate 16 by screws 178, 178.The insulators 19 carry a stripline section 20 which comprises a bar 21of silver-plated copper covered by a resilient strip of silver-platedberyllium copper 22 loosely wrapped over each end of the bar 20 forminga loop at each end and terminating short of the mid-length of bar 21 onthe surface away from base 10 and secured by rivets 23 to bar 21. Theends of the strip 22 are provided with inwardly extending slots 22Awhich permit wrapping the strip 22 around the bar 21 after headedattaching studs 24 are pressed into position in small apertures in thebar 21 so that the insulators 19, 19 can be screwed on the studs 24 andthe strip-line section 20 can be securely maintained in accurateparallel relation to the base 10 by being supported from plate 16 byscrews 178, 175 extending through leg 17, of guide bracket 17, 18 andinto insulators 19, 19. The loops formed at each end by the strip 22 areprovided with cuts 25 providing three independently yieldable contacts25A.

To minimize inductance heating, a conductive rod 25B is bent into a yokeof figure-8 conformation and at the center thereof a stud 25C extendslaterally and is pressfitted into an aperture in the cooperatingstrip-line bar section 21 so the figure-8 shaped yoke is kept at thesame potential as the bar section 21 and screw 24, thereby minimizingany heating effect.

Slidably supported in shaft-receiving apertures in the plates 16F and16R cooperating with one of the square apertures 13 in the base plate 10is a plunger assembly shown in section in FIGURE 4 which plungerassembly includes a front shaft section 26F and a rear shaft section 26Rof identical construction each provided with a threaded bore at each endand provided with a flange 27 on the inner end serving as a stop byengagement with the cooperating plate. A rod 28 threaded at both endsextends through a tubular insulator 29 on which a front square contact29F and a rear square contact 29R are mounted with an electricalshielding resilient sheet element 30 located therebetween for closingthe cooperating square aperture 13 when the square contacts 29F and 29Rengage cooperating strip-line sections 20 at the front 4 and rearrespectively of the base plate 10, as shown in FIGURES 2, 3, and 8.

A cross-switch contact including a conductive tubular body 31 having afront rectangular contact element 32 and a rear rectangular contactelement 33 is also supported on the insulating tube 29.

The various contacts and electrical shielding sheet element aremaintained in proper spaced relation by insulator collars 34, 35, 36,37, and 38 between the flange ends 27 of the shafts 26F and 26R, therebymaintaining the contacts in accurately spaced relation. A handle oroperating knob 39 is mounted on the front shaft by means of a screw 39Athreaded into the front shaft 26F, while a microswitch operating disk 40is mounted on the other shaft section 26R by a screw 40S, therebycompleting the plunger assembly.

The electrical shielding sheet element 30 shown in FIGURE 7 is of awidth substantially the same as one side dimension of the squarecontacts 29F and 29R while the length is substantially greater toeffectively close the cooperating aperture 13. The ends of theelectrical shielding sheet element 30 are provided with slots 30A toprovide spring fingers 30B for electrically conductive engagement withthe conductive base plate 10. A dimple 30C is formed on each springfinger to form a projection that engages the plate 10 with adequatecontact pressure.

The terminal end strip-line section 20L, 20D or 20T is modifiedfrom thestrip-line sections 20 between apertures 13 by having the resilientberyllium copper strip 41 thereof (FIGURE 8) formed into a loop at theinner end of the bar 21 in the manner previously described but the strip41 projects beyond the outer end of the bar 21 a length sufficient toreach the center contact 42 of one of the conventional coaxial cableconnection adapters. Each adapter includes a conical housing 43 boltedto the base plate 10 and connected to a conventional coaxial cable 44which extends to the corresponding antenna.

Similarly the connections to the transmitter or the receiver are madefrom the strip-line sections 20 with the top most strip-line sectionbeing similar to the stripline section 20L which includes the resilientyieldable bendable strip material 41 for connection by a dihedral anglebend to the center contact of a coaxial cable connection 42T to atransmitter or receiver.

The connection of the strip-line section 20L to the antenna coaxialcable is shielded by a box 52 having an open back and one open sidewhich has an extension overlying the plate 16F adjacent the antennaconnection and is secured to the base 10 and the plate 16F by attachingscrews to permit removal for servicing.

The plates 16F on the front are arranged in staggered relation dependingupon whether the antenna connection is at the left or at the right, andsmall end plates 51F are provided to complete the shielding and also toprovide a neat appearance.

It will also be noted that the rows of plates 16R on the rear arearranged at 90 rotation about the associated shaft receiving aperturesto the position shown in FIG- URE 13 thereby making the staggeredarrangement of the rear plates 16R such that the end plates 51R arelocated at the top and bottom.

The leg 18F of each dihedral angle guide bracket 17F, 18F at the frontis adapted to guide an edge of each contact element 32, 33 of eachswitch contact 31, 32, 33 and prevent rotation thereof when the crossswitch contact is in the line continuing position of FIGURES 2 and 5while the guide dihedral angle bracket 17R, 18R at the rear is adaptedto guide the square contacts 29F, 29R as well as the long side of therectangular electrical shielding element 30 to thereby assure that thecontacts remain in operative registration assuring that the contactswill pass into operative engaging positions with the resilient endportions 25A of the resilient strips 22 or 41 of the strip-linesections. Thus there is no danger of the contacts becoming excessivelyangularly displaced about the insulator 29, thereby assuring that thecontacts will slide into operative contacting positions with thestrip-line sections. It will also be noted that the rounded portions ofthe loop 25B formed by portions 25A act as cam means to direct thecontacts into operative engaging position.

The switching arrangement of the present invention provides forcontinuous strip-lines in a horizontal direction on the front of theflat base and continuous vertical strip-lines on the rear of the flatbase. When a plunger is in its forward position as shown in FIGURES 2and 8, for example, the strip-lines are continuous through that plungerbut when the plunger is in the position shown at the center of FIGURE 3the cross-switch contact connects the strip-line extending from thecenter transmitter A2 to the antenna strip-line which is connected tothe top antenna A1 at the left of the equipment shown in FIGURE 1. Itwill be apparent that any transmitter T1, T2, or T3 can be connected toany antenna A1, A2, or A3 by the selection of the proper plunger andmoving such plunnger to the rear to the position shown by the top centerplunger T2-A1 in FIGURES 1 and 3.

It is important that the power he turned off during the switchingoperation and that the power he not turned on again until the switchingoperation is completed to avoid objectionable interference, arcing, andthe like and for this purpose a first microswitch 45 having auxiliarycontacts is mounted on a first dihedral angle supporting bracket 46 anda second microswitch 47 is mounted on a second dihedral angle supportingbracket 48, each bracket with its microswitch being mounted on itscooperating plate 16R by screws 16S and such microswitches are actuatedby engagement of their arms with operating disk 40 carried by thecooperating shaft 26R shown in FIG- URE 3.

These microswitches are arranged to control the transmitter to preventtransmitter power being on during the switching operation. Also theswitch 47 having additional auxiliary contacts is provided with anindicator operating contact which is connected in circuit to anannunciator board 49 (FIG. 14) to turn on an indicator such as a lightcorresponding to the plunger which is in cross-switching position andsuch annunciator board 49 is adapted to be positioned at a remotelocation with the lights 50 in the same relative positions as theplungers viewed from the front. The center light 50 in the top row islighted to show that the center transmitter T2 is connected to the topantenna A1. The center top plunger would be identified as T2-A1 toindicate the second transmitter and the first antenna and to shorten theexpression it would be referred to as 2-1 with similar expressions usedfor identifying the various locations giving the transmitter locationfirst and the antenna or dummy load the second identification after thehyphen.

In FIGURE 10 a diagrammatic showing corresponding to FIGURE 1 includes adummy load with the dummy load being indicated by DL at the bottomshowing two plungers therefor. FIGURE 11 shows an arrangement in whicheight transmitters and eight antennas are used with a dummy load at thebottom.

It should be noted that the switch arrangement has its antenna 1connection 44A1 at the left and antenna 2 connection 44A2 at the rightso the parts may be closely assembled and still have room for largediameter coaxial cable connections or adapters. The transmitterconnection flanges 51 are all arranged at the top of the equipment instaggered relation providing suflicient space for the conventional largediameter coaxial cable connections, the details of such coaxial cableconnection being omitted for simplicity.

In the diagram of FIGURE 11 the plunger which would normally be atlocation SDL is omitted since it would perform no useful function sincea plunger at that location would still connect transmitter 8 to thedummy load in either position.

Another example of 100% flexibility is the use of 10 transmitters, lantennas and 10 dummy loads with 109 switches so that each antenna canbe connected to each transmitter.

However, a reduced flexibility between 10 transmitters and 10 antennasis obtained when 10 transmitters are connected to a dummy load and toantennas 1 and 2 similar to FIGURE 12 with antennas 7, 8, 9, and 10being connectable to transmitters 1 to only and with antennas 3, 4, 5,and 6 being connectable to transmitters 6 to only. This reducedflexibility requires only 68 plungers and has a flexibility of 63%.

Where less flexibility is required the arrangement of antenna andtransmitters may be that shown in FIGURE 12 where the center strip-linesections between the three bottom antenna strip-lines are omittedbetween transmitters 4 and 5 so antennas A-3, A-5 and A-7 can beconnected only to transmitters T-l, T-2, T-3 and T4; while antennas A-4,A6 and A-8 can be connected only to transmitters T-S, T-6, T-7 and T-8The dummy load DL is located on the top in this arrangement and aplunger with its contact is provided for each crossing of the dummy loadstrip-line and the transmitter strip-lines 1 to 8.

Any number of transmitters and any number of antennas can be arrangedfor cooperation while avoiding objectionable cross-talk since thestrip-line is completely shielded by the conductive base plate 10,partitions 14 and 15, plates 16F and 16R and shields closing the squareapertures so the equipment of the present invention gives the effect ofcomplete coaxial shielding without the disadvantages of priorstructures.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 15 to 17, inclusive, a modifiedform of plunger is shown mounted in a modifield form of front plate 16FAwith the microswitches 47 and being mounted on the same front plate16FA. The plunger includes the rear shaft 26RA, the various contacts andthe spacers which spacers are shown in this modification as being ofceramic material with Teflon washers shown at each end of each spacerwhere the spacer contacts a metallic element such as a contact or thestop flange 27, for example, thereby making it possible to use lessexpensive spacers of ceramic material telescoped on the Teflon tubularinsulator 29. The forward shaft in the modification of FIGS. 15 to 17 isshown to include a shaft core 61 having an axial threaded bore at eachend. A hollow cylindrical shaft locking sleeve 62 is freely rotatable onthe core 61 and is prevented from longitudinal movement relative to thecore 61 by a washer 63 secured to the outer end of the shaft core 61 bya bolt 63B with the washer 63 being of less diameter than the sleeve butof greater diameter than the core. The other end of the sleeve 62 isprevented from longitudinal movement by a nylon washer 64 which abutsagainst a metal washer 65 which metal washer 65 abuts against a Teflonwasher 60 of the type used at each end of each ceramic spacinginsulator. The nylon washer 64 also serves as the stop providing acushioning action between the plate 16FA and the plunger assembly. Theassembly of contacts with the rear shaft 26RA and the shaft core 61 isaccomplished by the screw-threaded rod 28 which has its forward endthreaded into the rear end of the shaft core 61 while the Teflontubular. insulator 29 is of less length than the total axial length ofthe contacts, and the depth of the cylindrical recesses 66A, the washersand the ceramic insulators so that compression occurs on the insulatorsand the contacts between the projecting rim 66 of the core 61 formed bythe cylindrical recess 66A in the rear end of the core 61 receiving theTeflon tubular insulator 29 and the corresponding rim 66 in the shaft26RA so that a strong clamping action is obtained by the screw-threadedrod 28 to retain the contacts and insulators in proper angular relationby the frictional engagement between the clamped parts.

The showing in FIG. 4 being on a small scale shows the flanges 27 asbeing part of the shaft 26 to avoid confusion but the structure ispreferably that shown in FIG. 16 where the flange 27 of FIG. 4 is shownas being a washer 65 with a nylon washer 64 abutting the shaft core 61or shaft 26RA with the shaft core 61 and shaft 26RA each having acylindrical recess MA formed by the projecting rim 66 so that thetubular insulator 29 may be telescopingly received into such cylindricalrecess. The nylon washer as also serves as a cushioning stop for theplunger assembly against the inner surface of the cooperating bearingplate.

The dihedral angle guides 17, 18 previously described engage theadjacent edges of the contacts 29, 29, 33, 32 to prevent relativerotation thereof, while the stripline sections 20, L and 20T retain thecontacts in correct registration with the strip-line in the operativeposition of the strip-line continuing contacts so that the contacts areretained in angular relation by friction for a minimum of movement inthe axial direction of the plunger.

An operating knob 67 having a cylindrical bore receiving the outer endof sleeve 62 extends beyond and is fixed to the sleeve 62 by a pin 67Fso that a portion of the knob 67 extends forwardly beyond the washer 63and the retaining screw 63B so there is no danger of an operator havinghis hand engage the shaft core 61 or any parts fixedly attached thereto.

The locking sleeve 62 is provided with a first elongated cam 68 adjacentthe inner end and a second elongated cam 69 spaced from said first camby the thickness of the plate lFA and such cam 68 is adapted to passthrough a slot 70 communicating with the sleeve receiving aperture inthe plate whereby the locking sleeve may be rotated to a position wherethe cam 68 is in registry with the slot 70 to permit axial movement ofthe plunger assembly including the locking sleeve 62. The slot 70 isshown extending horizontally while the first cam 68 extends downwardlyand the second cam 69 extends upwardly.

Mounted on the outer surface of the plate 16FA are arcuate stops 69S and683 which limit the movement of the sleeve 62 to 90 degrees and thislimited movement permits registration of the cam 68 with the slot '70and while permitting limited rotation of the locking sleeve 62. The cams69 and 68 are adapted to operate the microswitches 47 and 45,respectively, and these switches are operated by their spring biasedactuating arms 47A and 45A, respectively. The position of the rollers onthe ends of such arms is such that the rollers engage the cams 69 or 68to actuate the switches and the rollers then also serve as detentsyieldingly retaining the cams in abutting contact with the stops 695 or688 as clearly shown in FIGURES 15 to 17, inclusive. This modificationof the present invention assures that power from the transmitter ispositively disconnected before the plunger is moved in an axialdirection to change the connection of the antenna to the transmitter andsimilarly, the indicator operated by the switch 47 is operative toindicate on the indicator board 49 that the plunger is in itscross-connecting position and locked in that position and therefore thestructure shown in FIG- URES 15 to 17 positively assures this sequenceof operation.

The first form of the invention also positively assures the operation ofthe various control switches 45 and 47 but the plungers are notpositively locked in position against axial movement so that accidentaloperation could occur. However, the previously described form of theinvention is readily adaptable to mechanical actuation of the plungersby power means making use of the control switches in their positionsshown in FIGURES 3 and 13.

The parts are blackened to assist in the dissipation of 8 heat exceptfor the bearing surfaces between the plates and shafts.

The plungers in the drawings are shown as being in line continuingposition when the plungers are in their forward positions and in crossswitching position when the plungers are in their rearward position.

By simple reassembly of the switch contacts on the plungers so the crossswitching contacts 31, 32, 33 is placed on the rear of the plungerinstead of being on the front thereof, the cross switching will occurwhen the plunger is in the forward position and the line continuingarrangement will occur when the plunger is in the rear position.

The switch assembly is preferably made in modules of a desired size suchas three switches wide and three switches high, for example, and severalof such modules may be connected together to make any desired size ofswitch assembly such as nine switches wide by three switches high ornine switches wide and twelve switches high or any other combination toget any desired combination. The modules are connected so that theconnections 20L, 201) or ZtlT are connected to corresponding endconnections of adjacent switch assembly modules to obtain any desiredswitching effect.

It will be apparent that changes may be made in the various structuresdescribed within the spirit of the invention as defined by the validscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A strip-line switch system for connecting any one of a plurality oftransmitters or receivers to any one of a plurality of antennascomprising a vertically positioned fiat base having a plurality ofaligned plunger receiving rectangular apertures therethrough in verticaland horizontal rows, horizontally extending partition members on thefront of said fiat base extending between the horizontal rows ofapertures, vertically extending partition members between the verticalrows of apertures on the rear of said base, front plates extendingbetween adjacent front partition members, and rear plates extendingbetween adjacent rear partition members, each front and each rear platehaving a shaft receiving aperture and co operating front and rear plateshaving their shaft receiving apertures in axial alignment with thecooperating rectangular aperture in said base, a dihedral angle guidebracket having one leg supported on the inner surface of each plate withthe other leg extending transverse to said base and parallel to the axisof the cooperating shaft receiving aperture, a pair of insulatorssupported by one end from said one leg of each angle bracket, astrip-line section supported on the other ends of said insulators inparallel relation to the partition members and base, a strip ofyieldable contact sheet material wrapped over both ends of eachstrip-line section and secured thereto, a figure-8 yoke embracing saidinsulators and connected to the associated strip-line section, a plungerfor each rectangular aperture, each plunger including a front and a rearshaft slidable in the shaft receiving apertures in the correspondingfront and rear plates, the front shaft having a flange on its rear endand the rear shaft having a flange on its front end and said shaftshaving a threaded axial here at each end, a micro-switch operating diskon the rear shaft and an operating knob on said front shaft, a tubularinsulator between the flange ends of said shafts and extending throughthe cooperating rectangular aperture in said base and of a length thatthe cooperating shafts remain supported in said plates while the flangeends of the shafts limit the axial movement, a rod threaded at both endsextending through said tubular insulator and screw threaded into theflanged ends of said shafts, a square front and a square rear contactelement each having a central mounting aperture receiving said tubularinsulator for electrical connection to adjacent strip-line sections toform therewith a continuous strip-line conductor, an electricalshielding sheet element on said tubular insulator between said squarefront and said square rear contact elements and rcarwardly of said baseto close the cooperating square aperture in said base to effectivelyslticld the adjacent strip-line on the front from its crossingstrip-line on the rear, a cross-switch contact including a conductivetubular body on said tubular insulator, front and rear rectangularcontact elements on said tubular body of a size to engage with only oneadjacent strip-line section so said cross-switch contact of each plungermay connect a single strip-line conductor on the front to its crossingsingle strip-line conductor on the rear whereby any strip-line conductoron the front can be connected to any strip-line conductor on the rear,and spacers on said tubular insulators to maintain said contacts inoperative position when the flange stop of said shafts engage thecooperating plate.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which an operating knob isscrew threadcdly attached to the outer end of the shaft, and amicroswitch actuating disk is screw thrcadedly secured to the outer endof the rear shaft, a pair of microswitches for each plunger, onemicroswitch being actuated by said disk when the plunger is in the rearposition and the other microswitch being actuated when the plunger is inits front position, and means responsive to said microswitches toindicate the position of the plunger and other means responsive to themicroswitchcs to prevent cnergization of the associated strip line untilthe plunger is at the limit of movement.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which an annunciator havingindications corresponding to each pltmgcr is mounted at a distantlocation, and means are actuated by each plunger to control saidannunciator to indicate the condition of its associated plttnger.

4. A stripdine switch systemfor connecting any one of a plurality oftransmitters or receivers to any one of a plurality of antennascomprising a base having a plurality of switch receiving aperturesthcrcthrough, first partition members on one side of said base extendingbetween lines of apertures, second partition members on other sides ofsaid base extending transversely to said first partition members betweenlines of apertures, plates on one side of said base extending betweenadjacent first partition members, and plates extending between saidsecond partition members, each plate having a shaft receiving apertureand cooperating plates having their shaft receiving apertures in axialalignment with the cooperating aperture in said base, a guide having aleg extending transverse to said base and parallel to the axis of thecooperating shaft receiving aperture, insulators supported by one endfrom said plates, :1 strip-line section supported on the other ends ofsaid insulators in parallel relation to the partition members and base,a strip of yieldable contact sheet material wrapped over each strip-linesection, a plunger for each aperture in said base, each plungerincluding a shaft at each end in the shaft receiving apertures in thecorresponding plates, an elongated insulator between the inner ends ofsaid shafts and extending through the cooperating aperture in said baseand of a length that said shafts remain supported in said plates betweenthe limits of axial movement, a one side contact and another sidecontact mounted on said elongated insulator for electrical connection toadjacent strip-line sections to form therewith a continuous strip-lineconductor, an electrical shielding sheet element on said tubularinsulator between said one side contact and said other side contact andon the other side of said base to close the cooperating aperture in saidbase to effectively shield the adjacent striplincs on the one side fromthe stripline on the other side, a cross-switch including a conductivetubular body on said elongated insulator, one side and other sidecontact elements on said tubttlar body of a size to engage with only oneadjacent strip conductor section so said cross switch connects a singlestrip-line conductor on the one side to a single strip-line conductor onthe other side whereby any strip-line conductor on one side can beconnected to any strip-line conductor on the other side.

5. A switching system comprising a conductive base plate having apluraiity of apertures therethrough, a plurality of strip-line sectionconductors insulatingly supported between adjacent apertures with thestrip-line sections on one side of said base extending in a transversedirection to the strip-line sections on the other side of said base, aplunger for each aperture, each plunger being mounted for movementthrough its cooperating aperture, each plunger comprising strip-linesection connecting contacts for continuing the strip-line sections onone side into continuous strip-lines and other stripline connectingcontacts for continuing the strip-line sections on the other side intocontinuous other strip-lines when a plunger is in one position,cross-switch contacts including contact elements on said plunger forconnecting one strip-line section on one side of the base to astrip-line section on the other side of said base when the plunger is inthe other position.

6. A switching system comprising a base, first stripline sectionconductors insulatingly supported on said base, second strip-linesection conductors insulatingly supported on said base and extendingtransversely to said first strip-line sections, plungcrs mounted formovement on said base adjacent the crossings of the strip-line sectionconductors, plungcrs comprising strip-line section continuing contactsfor continuing the strip-line sections into continuous strip lines whena plttngcr is in one position, cross-switch contacts including contactelements on said plunger for cross connecting one of said firststrip'line sections to one of said second strip-line sections when theplunger is in the other position.

7. A switch structure comprising a base having an aperture therethrough,strip-line sections insulatingly mounted on opposite sides of said base,and terminating adjacent to and within the projected outline of saidapcrture, an aperturcd plate mounted in space relation on each side ofsaid base with the aperture thereof in axial alignment with the baseaperture, a plunger including shafts mounted for sliding movement insaid apertures in said plate and an insulator between said shafts, pairof symmetrical contacts on said insulator spaced apart the distancebetween the strip-line sections on opposite sides of said base, anothercontact including a conductive body and unsymmetrical contact elementsspaced apart the distance between said strip-line sections on oppositesides of said base, and stop means to limit movement of said plunger sosaid plunger will be in either the position where said pair of contactsare engaging said strip-line sections on opposite sides of said base forcontinuing the strip lines or in the other position where said anothercontact engages said strip line sections on opposite sides of said basecross connecting said strip lines on opposite sides of said base.

8. The invention according to claim 7 in which dihedral angle guidebrackets are mounted on said plates and maintain said contacts inalignment with the strip-line section.

9. The invention according to claim 7 in which the insulator supports anelectrically conductive element which closes the apcrtttrc in said basewhen said first contacts are engaging said strip-line sections.

'10. A switch for selectively connecting sections of two strip lines toprovide continuations of each strip line or cross connection betweenstrip lines comprising a base, strip line sections insttlatingly mountedon said base, a member mottntcd for movement across the strip lines,said member including first contacts operable for continuing the striplines as separate conductors insulated front each other when the memberis in one position, and including other contacts for cross-connectingsaid strip line sections while breaking the connection of said firstcontacts with the strip line sections when the b r is in the otherposition, said strip-line sections being on opposite sides of said base,and said base being provided with an aperture through which said memberwith said contacts passes, said member carrying an electrical shieldingelement for closing said aperture when said first contacts are inengagement with said strip-line sections.

11. The invention according to claim 6 in which auxiliary contacts aremounted to be operated by said plunger to indicate the position of theplunger.

12. A strip-line section comprising a conductive bar, a pair of studsprojecting from one surface of said bar, a resilient strip of conductivematerial having slots formed in each end thereof wrapped around said barlongitudinally thereof, said resilient strip being formed into a loopwhere said strip bends around the end of said bar, said loop havinglongitudinally extending slits forming independently movable contactsfor engaging a movable switch contact element and insulators mounted onsaid studs for supporting said strip line section from a conductivesupport, and a conductive figure-8 shaped yoke cmbracing said insulatorsand electrically connected to said bar.

13. The invention according to claim 6 in which auxiliary contacts aremounted to be operated by said plunger to control the How of power tothe strip lines being opened or closed.

14. A plunger for switching comprising a pair of shafts arranged inaxially spaced axial alignment, an insulator between said shafts. a pairof symmetrical first contacts mounted on said insulator in axiallyspaced relation and insulated from each other, a second contactincluding a conductive body mounted on said insulator and having a pairof space contact elements spaced apart the same distance as said firstcontacts, said second contact elements being unsymmetrical, and means tosecure said contacts in spaced relation on said insulator whereby saidfirst and symmetrical contacts may be used to continue strip-linesections into a continuous strip-line and said second contact may beused to cross-connect one strip-line section of one of said strip-linesto a strip-line section of the other striplinc.

15. An operating shaft for a switch comprising a shaft core with anaxially threaded bore at each end and having a cylindrical recess at oneend, a shaft locking sleeve freely rotatable on said shaft core, atubular insulator having one end received in said cylindrical recess ofsaid shaft core, a rod threaded at each end passing through said tubularinsulator and threaded into the one end of said shaft core, a firstwasher mounted on said tubular insulator abutting said one end of saidshaft core, a sec ond washer on the other end of said shaft core, saidshaft sleeve being of less length than said shaft core, whereby saidshaft sleeve will freely rotate and be limited in longitudinal movementalong said shaft core by said first and second washers, a bearing platehaving a shaft receiving aperture rotatably supporting said shaftlocking sleeve while permitting longitudinal movement of said shaftsleeve with said shaft core in an axial direction in said aperture, saidbearing plate having a cam receiving slot communicating with the shaftreceiving aperture, cam means extending from adjacent said one end ofsaid shaft sleeve :1 distance corresponding to the axial movement ofsaid plunger less the thickness of said bearing plate, a second cammeans between said first cam means and said other end and spaced 180degrees from said first cam means and axially therefrom the thickness ofsaid plate whereby said first cam means may be located outwardly of saidplate, micro-switches mounted on the outer surface of said plate, eachmicroswitch having an actuating arm located for operation by said cammeans, and stops limiting the rotation of said shaft locking sleevewhereby said actuating arms of said mieroswitches serve as detents torcleasably retain said shaft locking sleeve in two angular positions.

16. A switch comprising strip-line sections and contacts cooperable withsaid strip-line sections, a plunger operating shaft including a shaftcore with axially threaded bore: at each end and having a cylindricalrecess at one end, z locking sleeve freely rotatable on said shaft core,a tubulat insulator received in said cylindrical recess of said shafcore, a rod threaded at each end passing through saic tubular insulatorand threaded into the one end of sale shaft core, a guide shaft threadedto the other end of said rod, :1 first washer mounted on said tubularinsulator abut ting said one end of said shaft core. a second washer onthe other end of said shaft core, said locking sleeve being of lesslength than said shaft core, whereby said locking sleeve may freelyrotate while being prevented from longitudinal movement relative to saidshaft core, a bearing plate having a locking shaft receiving aperturerotatably supporting said locking sleeve while permitting longitudinalmovement of said locking sleeve with said plunger in an axial directionin said bore, said plate having a cam receiving slot thereincommunicating with the shaft receiving aperture, a first cam on saidlocking sleeve extending from adjacent said one end of said shaft sleevea distance corresponding to the axial movement of said plunger less thethickness of said plate, a second cam on said lockiag sleeve betweensaid first cam and said other end and spaced 180 degrees from said firstcam and spaced longitudinally the thickness of said plate from saidfirst cam whereby said first cam may be located outwardly of said plateto operate microswitches or be located inwardly of said plate so thatsaid second cam may operate other microswitches, microswitches mountedoutwardly on said plate and having actuating arms located for operationby said cams, and stops engageable with said cams limiting the rotationof said sleeve whereby said actuating arms of said microswitches serveas detents to retain said sleeve releasably in two angular positions,and contacts on said tubular insulator for cooperation with saidstrip-line sections to connect said strip-line sections in continuousstrip-lines or in crossing connections, ceramic insulating spacersbetween said contacts and yieldable nylon washers between said ceramicinsulating spacers and said contacts, said rod serving to clamp saidcontacts and spacers securely together.

17. A switch operating handle mechanism for controlling a reciprocatingplunger comprising a circular apertured bearing, a cylindrical sleeverotatably mounted in the circular aperture, a core within said sleevefor connection to a switch structure, a slot extending radially fromsaid circular aperture, :1 first cam extending along one side of saidsleeve adjacent one end thereof, a second cam spaced an axial andangular distance from said first cam, a first stop on said bearing forengagement by said first cam, a second stop on said bearing forengagement by said second cam, microswitchcs having spring biased armsin the path of said cams when said sleeve is rotated from a positionwhere said second cam is in alignment with said slot to a position wheresaid second cam engages its stop, said spring biased arms being sopositioned that when either of said cams is in engagement with itscooperating stop, said cooperating arm will yieldably maintain saidsleeve against rotation thereby locking said sleeve against accidentalmovement in anhxial direction.

18. An operating handle mechanism for controlling a reciprocatingplunger comprising a circular apertured bearing, a cylindrical sleeverotatably mounted in the circular aperture, :1 core within said sleevefor connection to a mechanism to be operated, a slot extending radiallyfrom said circular aperture, a first cam extending along one side ofsaid sleeve adjacent one end thereof, a second cam spaced an axial andangular distance from said first cam, a first stop on said bearing forengagement by said first cam, a second step on said bearing forengagement by said second cam, spring biased arms in the path of saidcams when said sleeve is rotated from a position where said second camis in alignment with said slot to a position where said second camengages its stop, said spring biased arms being so positioned that wheneither of said cams is in.

engagement with its cooperating stop, said cooperating arm willyieldably maintain said sleeve against rotation there.- by locking saidsleeve against accidental movement in an axial direction.

19. The invention according to claim 1 in which the parts are blackened.v

20. The invention according to claim 6 in which a plurality of a saidswitching system is arranged in modular relation thereby increasing thenumber of switches and increasing the possible combinations of theswitching connections.

21. The invention according to claim 6 in which power means are providedto actuate each plunger for remote control thereof.

5 power to the strip lines being opened or closed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1935 Schramm200--166 X 4/1959 Landers 200-16 X ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,223,812 December 14, 1965 Charles S. Wright et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

In the grant, line- 3, after "Virginia," insert assignors to DeltaElectronics, Inc. of Alexandria, Virginia,

a corporation'of Virginia, line 12, for "Charles S. Wright and KennethOwen, their heirs" read Delta Electronics, Inc. its=successorsintheheading to the printed specification, "lines S and 4, for- "Charles 5.Wright, 6700 Jansen Court, and Kenneth Owen, 6481 Hibbling Ave., both ofSpringfield, Va." read Charles S. Wright, and Kenneth Owen, both ofSpringfield, Va. assignors to Delta Electronics, Inc., Alexandria, Va. acorporation of Virginia Signed and sealed this 3rd day of October 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. A STRIP-LINE SWITCH SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OFTRANSMITTERS OR RECEIVERS TO ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF ANTENNASCOMPRISING A VERTICALLY POSITIONED FLAT BASE HAVING A PLURALITY OFALIGNED PLUNGER RECEIVING RECTANGULAR APERTURES THERETHROUGH IN VERTICALAND HORIZONTAL ROWS, HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING PARTITION MEMBERS ON THEFRONT OF SAID FLAT BASE EXTENDING BETWEEN THE HORIZONTAL ROWS OFAPERTURES, VERTICALLY EXTENDING PARTITION MEMBERS BETWEEN THE VERTICALROWS OF APERTURES ON THE REAR OF SAID BASE, FRONT PLATES EXTENDINGBETWEEN ADJACENT FRONT PARTITION MEMBERS, AND REAR PLATES EXTENDINGBETWEEN ADJACENT REAR PARTITION MEMBERS, EACH FRONT AND EACH REAR PLATEHAVING A SHAFT RECEIVING APERTURE AND COOPERATING FRONT AND REAR PLATESHAVING THEIR SHAFT RECEIVING APERTURES IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THECOOPERATING RECTANGULAR APERTURE IN SAID BASE, A DIHEDRAL ANGLE GUIDEBRACKET HAVING ONE LEG SUPPORTED ON THE INNER SURFACE OF EACH PLATE WITHTHE OTHER LEG EXTENDING TRANSVERSE TO SAID BASE AND PARALLEL TO THE AXISOF THE COOPERATING SHAFT RECEIVING APERTURE, A PAIR OF INSULATORSSUPPORTED BY ONE END FROM SAID ONE LEG OF EACH ANGLE BRACKET, ASTRIP-LINE SECTION SUPPORTED ON THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID INSULATORS INPARALLEL RELATION TO THE PARTITION MEMBERS AND BASE, A STRIP OFYIELDABLE CONTACT SHEET MATERIAL WRAPPED OVER BOTH ENDS OF EACHSTRIP-LINE SECTION AND SECURED THERETO, A FIGURE-8 YOKE EMBRACING SAIDINSULATORS AND CONNECTED TO THE ASSOCIATED STRIP-LINE SECTION, A PLUNGERFOR EACH RECTANGULAR APERTURE, EACH PLUNGER INCLUDING A FRONT AND A REARSHAFT SLIDABLE IN THE SHAFT RECEIVING APERTURES IN THE CORRESPONDINGFRONT AND REAR PLATES, THE FRONT SHAFT HAVING A FLANGE ON ITS REAR ENDAND THE REAR SHAFT HAVING A FLANGE ON ITS FRONT END AND SAID SHAFTSHAVING A THREADED AXIAL BORE AT EACH END, A MICRO-SWITCH OPERATING DISKON THE REAR SHAFT AND AN OPERATING KNOB ON SAID FRONT SHAFT, A TUBULARINSULATOR BETWEEN THE FLANGE ENDS OF SAID SHAFTS AND EXTENDING THROUGHTHE COOPERATING RECTANGULAR APERTURE IN SAID BASE AND OF A LENGTH THATTHE COOPERATING SHAFTS REMAIN SUPPORTED IN SAID PLATES WHILE THE FLANGEENDS OF THE SHAFTS LIMIT THE AXIAL MOVEMENT, A ROD THREADED AT BOTH ENDSEXTENDING THROUGH SAID TUBULAR INSULATOR AND SCREW THREADED INTO THEFLANGED ENDS OF SAID SHAFTS, A SQUARE FRONT AND A SQUARE REAR CONTACTELEMENT EACH HAVING A CENTRAL MOUNTING APERTURE RECEIVING SAID TUBULARINSULATOR FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO ADJACENT STRIP-LINE SECTIONS TOFORM THEREWITH A CONTINUOUS STRIP-LINE CONDUCTOR, AN ELECTRICALSHIELDING SHEET ELEMENT ON SAID TUBULAR INSULATOR BETWEEN SAID SQUAREFRONT AND SAID SQUARE REAR CONTACT ELEMENTS AND REARWARDLY OF SAID BASETO CLOSE THE COOPERATING SQUARE APERTURE IN SAID BASE TO EFFECTIVELYSHIELD THE ADJACENT STRIP-LINE ON THE FRONT FROM ITS CROSSING STRIP-LINEON THE REAR, A CROSS-SWITCH CONTACT INCLUDING A CONDUCTIVE TUBULAR BODYON SAID TUBULAR INSULATOR, FRONT AND REAR RECTANGULAR CONTACT ELEMENTSON SAID TUBULAR BODY OF A SIZE TO ENGAGE WITH ONLY ONE ADJACENTSTRIP-LINE SECTION SO SAID CROSS-SWITCH CONTACT OF EACH PLUNGER MAYCONNECT A SINGLE STRIP-LINE CONDUCTOR ON THE FRONT TO ITS CROSSINGSINGLE STRIP-LINE CONDUCTOR ON THE REAR WHEREBY ANY STRIP-LINE CONDUCTORON THE FRONT CAN BE CONNECTED TO ANY STRIP-LINE CONDUCTOR ON THE REAR,AND SPACERS ON SAID TUBULAR INSULATORS TO MAINTAIN SAID CONTACTS INOPERATIVE POSITION WHEN THE FLANGE STOP OF SAID SHAFTS ENGAGE THECOOPERATING PLATE.